Rahul, Gill Hundreds Put India in Command Against Afghanistan on Day One

New Chandigarh, June 2026: KL Rahul and skipper Shubman Gill struck authoritative centuries while B. Sai Sudharsan produced a polished 81 as India seized complete control of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, finishing the opening day at an imposing 368 for 3 in 85 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, India faced a disciplined opening spell from Afghanistan’s pace attack, which managed to keep the scoring rate in check during the early exchanges. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked fluent from the outset, driving and cutting confidently on his way to 24 off 32 deliveries. However, Afghanistan struck the first blow when Mohammad Saleem Safi induced an edge from the left-hander, with wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai completing the catch to leave India at 41 for 1.

KL Rahul, meanwhile, had a testing beginning to his innings. The experienced opener survived a major scare when Afghanistan opted not to review a caught-behind appeal despite there being a visible edge. Having received that reprieve, Rahul gradually settled into rhythm and found an ideal partner in Sai Sudharsan.

The young left-hander looked composed from the moment he arrived at the crease. Although he survived an early chance after Rahmanullah Gurbaz failed to hold onto a catch, Sai displayed excellent temperament and shot selection. Together, he and Rahul steadied the innings and guided India to 96 for 1 at lunch.

The post-lunch session belonged entirely to the Indian pair. Rahul shifted gears and began scoring more freely, bringing up his 21st Test half-century with a mixture of patience and elegant strokeplay. Sai continued to impress with his maturity, handling both pace and spin with confidence. He frequently used the sweep shot to good effect and rotated the strike intelligently, ensuring Afghanistan’s bowlers were unable to build sustained pressure.

The second-wicket partnership flourished as the duo added 139 runs, effectively taking the game away from the visitors. Afghanistan’s bowlers persevered and generated occasional opportunities. Saleem Safi, in particular, extracted reverse swing and remained their most threatening bowler. Sai survived another close call when an outside edge flew past the diving wicketkeeper, while Rahul escaped an lbw appeal after a review confirmed an inside edge.

The breakthrough finally arrived when Saleem Safi dismissed Sai for a superbly crafted 81 from 104 balls. The innings was marked by poise, timing and maturity, underlining the youngster’s growing stature in the longer format.

Indian captain Shubman Gill then joined Rahul and immediately looked at ease. The skipper played a series of crisp drives and confidently punished loose deliveries, helping India reach 209 for 2 at tea.

The final session saw India tighten their grip further. Rahul completed a well-deserved century, his 12th in Test cricket, before falling for exactly 100. The opener was caught behind by Gurbaz off Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, marking the third consecutive occasion on which he was dismissed on the century mark.

Gill, however, continued to dominate. Combining patience with attacking intent, he compiled a magnificent unbeaten century and anchored the innings through the closing stages. Alongside him, Rishabh Pant curbed his natural aggression and produced a measured half-century.

The duo stitched together an unbroken century stand for the fourth wicket, frustrating Afghanistan’s bowlers and ensuring India ended the day in a commanding position.

At stumps, Gill remained unbeaten on 103, while Pant was not out on 50. With seven wickets still in hand and a formidable total already on the board, India will head into the second day firmly in control and eyeing a massive first-innings score.

Brief scores:

India 368/3 in 85 overs (Shubman Gill 103*, KL Rahul 100, Sai Sudharsan 81; Mohammad Saleem Safi 2-50) against Afghanistan.